Illuminated lawn sprinkler



NOV. 27, 1934. LUNDBERG 1,982,315

ILLUMINATED LAWN SPRINKLER Filed July 7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Gwv/v/w EA U/VDBERG.

Nov. 27, 1934. G, E. LUNDBERG ILLUMINATED LAWN SPRINKLER Filed July '7,1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nm-nu-nnun GU/VA/A/P t. Z U/VDBEPG.

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to lawn sprinklers and particularly to the portablerotary type of sprinkler, such as those to be coupled to the end of ahose for movement from place to place on a lawn to be watered, thegeneral object of the invention being to provide illuminating means onthe sprinkler serving the dual purpose of locating the sprinkler in thedark and providing ornamental illumination of the spray or streamdischarged from the sprinkler.

An important object of the invention is to provide illuminating means onthe sprinkler together with a source of energy for the illuminatingmeans contained within the sprinkler.

A further object is to provide illuminating means, such as one or moreelectric light bulbs, on the sprinkler structure, together with agenerator within the sprinkler structure and connected with the rotatingelement of the sprinkler to be driven to generate current for supplyingthe illuminating means.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which the illuminatingelement supporting structure is rotatable with the rotating dischargenozzle structure so that the ray from the illuminating element mayfollow the streams issuing from the nozzle.

Another object is to provide a water tight enclosing frame for theilluminating element and for the current supply means for theilluminating element.

A still further object is to provide a current generator comprisingfield and armature elements having driving connection with the rotarynozzle structure for rotation in opposite direction for the necessaryspeed for generating desired current for the illuminating element.

Another object is to provide means for readily disconnecting theilluminating means or the current supply means from service whenillumination is not desired, as when the sprinkler is being used indaylight.

The above specifically referred to, and other features of my invention,are shown incorporated in the structure disclosed on the accompanyingdrawings, in which drawings- Figure l is a side elevation of thesprinkler structure;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on plane III--III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on plane IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on plane VV of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section on plane VI-VI of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a section on plane VII-VII of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a section on plane VIII-VIII of Figure 3.

The structure shown comprises a supporting base 1 having the verticaltube 2 provided with a seating flange 3 engaging the top of the base andhaving the threaded end 4 to which is secured the horizontal couplingfitting 5 having the threaded flange 6 for connection with a hose orother water conductor. A frame or hub 7 receives the tube 2 and rests onthe flange 3, and is provided with suitable packing means 8 forpreventing leakage, the frame '7 having the internal chamber 9 receivingthe water from the tube 2 through a number of inlets 10.

The frame has a number of laterally extending threaded outlets 11 forreceiving the pipes 12 which, at their outer ends, support nozzlefittings 13 from which the water is projected through the orifices 14,the nozzle structures being set at an angle so that the back pressure ofthe nozzle stream will cause rotation of the frame '7, in a manner wellunderstood in the art. Three such nozzle structures, equally spacedapart, are shown.

The upper part of the frame 7 is cylindrical and is concentric with thetube 2 on which the frame '7 rotates, and a cylindrical housing shell ofsheet metal or other suitable waterproof material intimately receivesand seats on the cylindrical upper part of the frame '7 and may bedetachably secured thereto as by means of screws 16, the housing 15being thus rotatable with the frame '7. The top of the housing 15 may bedome-shaped as shown and has a circular opening 17 in which is secured abezel ring or frame 18 for supporting a lens 19, a clamping ring 20threading on the bezel ring to secure the lens in place, a suitablewaterproof gasket 21 being preferably interposed between the lens andthe clamping frame.

A sheet metal reflector 22 extends into the bezel ring 18 and has theneck 23 forming a support for an electric light bulb 24. A bracket 25 issecured to the reflector neck and is mounted on and secured to a crosswall or plate 26 within the housing 15. A contact bracket 2''! issecured to but insulated from the bracket 25 and is engaged by the innercontact of the light bulb, the outer contact or shell of the bulb beingin engagement with the bracket 25 which is of metal.

all

. during daylight.

5 1. l H causing theinducftion of current flow through "the Between thetop of the frame 7 and the supporting cross-plate 26 is arranged themeans or mechanism for supplying electric current for illuminating thelamp, the means shown being in the form of an electric generator.Secured to and. extending upwardly from the top of the 28 and clampedbetween spacing sleeves 311 and 32 on the rods, each core structurebeing sur= rounded by a winding or coil 33. These armature windings areconnected serially in a circuit, Q Q r al f Whi h. neq wi h h metalcross-wall 26 and theref iir the bracket 25, While the other terminal otthe, circuit is, connected with the contact bracket 27 so that the lamp24 is included, in this armature circuit.

Within the upper part of the frame 7 above the outlets 11 to thenoz zlepipes 12, is supported a harihgnttin'g' 3irciving the ,cylindrical etension '35 ,nnthe tulde 2, the extension project ihg upwardly adistance intothe housing 15., The bearing fitting 34 r vesa packinggland 36 for securing packing 3 around the extensio so as to preventleaka of water through the bearmfg fitting. 'A 10; et cross wan or plate38 extends a r'ts's the heating 15 and engages the top or therram'e 7, ad sc 39 hfi uhher, fiber or other waterproof material being preferablyinterposed. Just above the cross wanes, a gear 40 is secured to theextensionfi'eand is meshe by a gear 41 on a counter aft 42 jpurnaledinthe wa1ls29 and 3a; our aled t its lower end in a bushing 5' the 'e t43w en t i p r and, to rnals in the 'beaj lug f4is'cured to the u percross wanes, ween a "collarj45 anda 'nut 46 or t e shaft 4 aie t jm'fedthie ,i ahlinations or a p rm nentihag et structure '47 having 'polesroata l we F a-1 7 1 we, ttai s Bei-ow the c'rtsswan 29 the shaft "43has the gear pinion ia eshi with the gear 49 on the scurrtershart "4'2.with the arrangement described,

hen the p'zfz e frarne hi rotated, the armature structurefiq wi'llrdtatetherewith and the "perinanent 'eflectroinajgnet or field structurewill be rt ated it the opposite direction, this relative the field andarmature structures armaturef circuit 'and the lamp "included insuchc'ircuit so that the lamp will beillum'ihated and will project itsrays through the lens 19 to illuminate the spra or stream of waterissuing from the nozzle orifices 14.

'I provide simple means whereby the generation of currents may be cutoil? at any time, as for example, when the sprinkler structure is usedThis means comprises a lever 50 fulcrumed "on a pin 51 extending betweenears 52 struck up from the intermediate-cross wall 29, which wall hasthe clearance slot orspace 53 for the lever outer end. At its inner endthe lever is "bifurcated to receive the shaft 43 between the pinion 48andthe collar 45 thereon, as clearly shown in Figuresfiand 4. At itsouter end, the lever is in thepath of a cam plate '54 secured to theinner 'en d of a hub 55 extendingthrough and journaled by the side'wa'llfof the shell '15, as best shown in Figure 3. A knurled knob 56is secured to the hub as by a screw 57 so that the hub and cam may bereadily turned.

Below the crosswall 29 there is another cross wall 58 to which a leafspring 59 is secured at its inner end, the outer end of the springpressing upwardly against the outer end of the lever 50. When the cam 54is in its upper position, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the spring 59holds the lever 50 with its inner end substantially midway between andclear of the gear 48 and collar 45 on the shaft 43, so that the fieldstructure 47 may remain in its lower position with its gear 48 in meshwith the gear 49, rotation of the sprinklernozzle structure thenresulting in relative rotation of the field and armature structure andthe generation of current. If it is not desired to use theillumination,the knob 56 is turned to swing the cam 54 downwardly to apply its camsurface 54' to the outer end of the lever 50 to swing the lever to carryits bifurcated end against tliecollar 4t and te raise the shaft 43 andthe field structure a sufficient distance to unmesh the gear 48 from thegear 49, so that, when the sprinkler is then operated, thefieldstructure will not be revolved and no current will be generated. Stopextensions 60 and 61 on the cam engage 'with opposite sides of the lever50 so that the cam will be turned the proper distance in eitherdirection; when the dam is swung back to its upper position to releasethe lever, the spring 59 will swing the lever away from the collan4'5and the field structure will tend to fall back to its operative positionby the 'force of gravity. Y

In order 'to keep the field or permanent magnet structure propermagnet-it condition when the structiir'e raised out of operatingposition, I provide a keeper 62 which is shown in the form of an hassecured against the bottom of the et er cross tau 26, this ring beingconcen trio with the fieldstructu're and'bei-ng engaged forrnagneticconneetion of its poles when the "struct'iire is raise ta ahinbperat-ive position. New "when the earns-4 is turned to its upperposition to release the lever 50, the inner end of the leverwil-lengagethe gear 48 and'exert downward pressure which will release the fieldstructtire has the keeper i'in'g and fr'es tore the gear 48 into h 'thegear rarer operation of the generator structure to generate current.

Y It is evident that any number of lamps may b'eFused so that a 6feo'l'ored rays could be projected into the spraymhdthe lamps could beattested "to direct the rays in any direction. Where the lai-n'piS seento pio fedt ia'y's from one side of the housing 15 a counterweight 63 ispreferably p'rov'i'de'd fo'n the housing {structure to Keep the "centerof gravity of the housing structure and parts therein as close aspossible to the axis of rotation of the various rotating parts so thatthe resistance -'to rotation to a minimum.

The various "cross walls --a1'-e "kept in properly spaced relationshipby the spacing sleeves on the will he reduced rods -28 and the lower'c-ross'wall 381s clamped by the rods against.;t;;e;top oi theframe 7and the gasket material =39, Should any water get by the bearingstructure 34 into the space 64 below the lower cross wall 38,-such waterwill be kep tfrcm passing this-cross wall by the gasket 3 prevent escapeof water through the bearing opening in the wall 38 through which theshaft 42 extends, and the packing material may also be oil soaked so asto afford lubrication to the countershaft. Any water collected in thespace 64 will be drained therefrom through the passageway 68 through thewall or frame 7 and this passageway preferably deflects at an angle andin a direction so that the water in the space 64 acted upon bycentrifugal force may readily flow through the passageway and escape.

Briefly repeating the operation, the water under pressure enters thefitting 5 and flows through the tube 2 into the frame chamber 9 andthrough the pipes 12 and out of the nozzle orifices 14, the backpressure of the streams causing the rotation of the frame '7 inclockwise direction (Figure 2). The armature structure of the generatorrotates with the nozzle structure but the driving train to the shaft 43from the stationary gear 40 through the gears on the countershaft 42will cause the permanent magnet or field structure to rotate in theopposite or counterclockwise direction, the relative rotation of thefield structure and armature structure being thus very high andsufficient current of the proper voltage is generated for supplying theilluminating element. The lamp bulb or the lens may be colored or acolored screen may be interposed and where there are several lamps,there may be different colors, the colored light rays being projectedthrough the water stream and spray giving a very ornamental and pleasingappearance. By the light rays, the sprinkler structure can also beeasily located in the dark. If it is not desired to use theillumination, the button 56 is turned to unmesh the field structure fromthe driving train. By being mounted on the frame '7 and between thenozzle structure 13, the housing 15 will not be subjected to the directimpact of the water from the nozzle orifices and will receive only thespray and water raining downwardly, and, owing to the various sealingand packing precautions described, no water can enter the housingstructure to interfere with the generator structure or the electricalcircuit.

I have shown a practical and efficient embodiment of the variousfeatures of my invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the exactconstruction, arrangement and operation shown and described as changesand modifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as outlined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as follows:

1. In a sprinkler, a rotary body having discharge orifices and arrangedto be rotated by the flow therethrough of the fluid to be sprayed, ahousing mounted on said body to rotate therewith, electricalilluminating means within said housing for illuminating the sprayedfluid, a current generator structure within said housing comprising afield element and a magnetic armature element, means connecting saidarmature element to rotate with said body, a connecting train betweensaid rotating body and said field element for rotating said fieldelement in a direction opposite to that of the body and armature elementwhereby to cause generation of current for supplying said illuminatingmeans, an electrical circuit for conducting current from said generatorto said illuminating means, and means operable from the exterior of saidhousing for interrupting said connecting train whereby to preventgeneration of current.

2. In a sprinkler, a rotatable nozzle structure operable and meanswhereby said structure is rotated by the force of the fluid flowingtherethrough, electrical illuminating means on the sprinkler forilluminating the fluid sprayed from said nozzle structure, an electriccurrent generator comprising field and armature elements, said fieldelement being in the form of a permanent magnet, means controlled by therotation of said nozzle structure for causing relative rotation of oneof said generator elements for the production of current for supplyingsaid illuminating. means, an electrical circuit for conducting thegenerator current to said illuminating means, means controllable toprevent generation of current by said generator structure, a keeper forsaid permanent magnet field element mounted adjacent thereto, and meansfor causing connection between said field element and said keeper whensaid generator structure is not generating current.

3. In a lawn sprinkler structure, a rotatable nozzle structure and meansfor causing rotation thereof, means on said structure for illuminatingthe fluid discharged from said nozzle structure, current generatingmeans on said structure arranged to be driven by the rotation of thenozzle structure to generate current for supplying said illuminatingmeans, and an electrical circuit for connecting said generating meanswith said illuminating means.

4. A lawn sprinkler comprising a rotatable nozzle structure, means forrotating said nozzle structure, a housing mounted on said nozzlestructure to rotate therewith, electrical illuminating means within saidhousing for illuminating the fluid discharged from said nozzlestructure, current generating means within said housing for saidilluminating means arranged to be driven by the rotation of said nozzlestructure, and an electrical circuit connecting said generating meanswith said illuminating means.

5. In a lawn sprinkler, a rotary frame having discharge outlets andarranged to be rotated by the flow therethrough of water to be sprayed,a housing mounted on said rotary frame, electrical illuminating meanswithin said housing arranged to direct illuminating rays into the spray,an electric current generator within said housing connected with to bedriven by said rotary frame to generate current and being electricallyconnected with said illuminating means for supplying current therefor,and means operable from the exterior of said housing for preventingcurrent sup- 130 ply to said illuminating means.

6. The combination with a lawn sprinkler of a current generating dynamostructure mounted thereon, means controlled by the force of waterflowing through said sprinkler for driving said 135 dynamo, andelectrical illuminating means on the sprinkler connected to receivecurrent from said dynamo and serving to illuminate the water flowingthrough said sprinkler.

7. A lawn sprinkler comprising a supporting 140 frame, a hydraulicdevice mounted on said frame having an inlet adapted for connection witha fluid supply conductor and having outlets for the discharge of thefluid, said hydraulic device having a rotor element driven by the forceof the 5 fluid fiow through said device, a dynamo electric currentgenerating structure on said frame, and a driving connection therewithfrom said rotor whereby said current generating structure will be drivento generate current, an electrical illumi- 1?? sesame cur-rentgenerating structure on said frame com prising an armature element and afield element, driving connection between said elements and saidrotorarranged to rotate said elements in opposite directions for thegeneration of current, an electrical illuminating device on said framefor illuminating the discharge fluid, and a circuit for Conductingcurrent from said generator structure to, said illuminating device.

GUNNAR E. LUNDBERG.

